Sewing machine will not advance the fabric

The machine appears to be working, I have checked thread tension in both places, when i run the machine without fabric in place (and without thread in the needle) the feet seem to be moving as they should. but once i add fabric to the mix, i get a ball of thread in one spot till the whole thing jams and stops. I am familar with this machine but was not the last to use it. it is threaded correctly and the needle is the correct one. I'm stumped ! please help if you can!
Elizabeth

1 Answer

Have you tried adjusting the tension as you sew?
Use a scrap piece of the same fabric, (doubled, etc to simulate piece you'll be working) and adjust the tension as you sew. Sometimes, that's all it takes.

Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.

Related Questions:

Second, consider using a better quality thread. By all means, AVOID old or bargain bin threads. Coats & Clark used to be a standard, but thread quality has improved over the past few years, so you may want to check out other brands like Aurafil, Superior, Isacord, etc. Also, cotton wrapped polyester thread releases thread lint that contributes to build-up of gunk in the machine. Some sewists have noted that they experience more sewing issues when using C&C threads. However, some machines will do better with certain thread brands than others, so some experimentation may be beneficial.

Third, check the stitch on your sample again. Generally, when thread loops appear on the underside of the fabric, it is the upper thread that is the problem. If loopy threads appear on the top of the fabric, it is the bobbin thread that is the issue. You can even use a different color in the top to help distinguish which thread is the problem.

Fourth, when threading the upper thread, Always Raise the Presser Foot during the threading process so the tension disk is released and the thread can seat properly. "Bird nesting" occurs when the thread is not seated in the tension disk. Sewing Machine Thread Bunching Up Here Why

Fifth, when the upper thread appears on the underside of the fabric, the upper thread tension is too loose. If the bobbin thread appears on the top of the fabric, the tension thread is too tight (or the bobbin thread is loose). Start out with the upper tension set at the midway point and tweak it from that point. The tension is ideal when both upper and bobbin threads meet in the middle of the fabric.

Also, remember that tension is not static--a tension setting for chiffon will most likely not work on cotton or denim. Get comfortable adjusting the tension to suit the project you are sewing.

Sounds like what is normally referred to as "bird nesting" or thread nesting which is essentially caused, in the majority of cases, by incorrect threading.

Advise your wife to always raise the presser foot when threading the machine. This releases the tension disk so the thread will seat properly. If the thread is not seated in the tension disk, the upper thread will loop and knot under the fabric causing "birds nests"--an ugly mess of thread!

Be sure to install new needles frequently. A bent, dull, or nicked needle will be the cause of many frustrations. Also, avoid old or bargain bin thread. And use the proper needle for the thread and fabric of the project.

The correct tension has been achieved when the upper thread and bobbin thread meet in the middle of the fabric. The starting point is usually the midway point between high & low tension number, and then testing and tweaking. This does not mean, however, that the tension needed for corduroy fabric will work on silk. There is usually some tweaking involved with every project, ie needle size & type, thread weight & material, type of fabric (heavy, light, knit, woven, etc.)

RAISE the presser foot and then rethread the upper thread from the very beginning. (The tension disks are released when the presser foot is raised allowing the thread to seat properly.) (When testing tension, it helps to use different color threads in the bobbin vs the top thread so you can see how it is sewing.)

Sew a test on the fabric you will be stitching. The ideal tension is when the upper thread and bobbin thread meet in the middle of the fabric. If the bobbin thread is appearing on the top of the fabric, the upper tension is too tight and needs to be loosened. If the upper thread is appearing under the fabric, the upper tension is too loose and needs to be tightened. Righty-tighty and lefty-loosey!

According to the manual, you should not need to adjust the bobbin tension (and I located other sites which stated the bobbin tension cannot be adjusted on this machine). Apparently, all the tension adjustment is accomplished through the upper thread::
"EN Thread Tension Upper thread tension Basic thread tension setting: "4". (1) To increase the tension, turn the dial to the next number up. To reduce the tension, turn the dial to the next number down. A. Normal thread tension for straight stitch sewing. B. Thread tension too loose for straight stitch sewing. Turn dial to higher number. C. Thread tension too tight for straight stitch sewing. Turn dial to lower number. D. Normal thread tension for zig zag and decorative sewing. Correct thread tension is when a small amount of the upper thread appears on the bottom side of fabric. Lower thread tension The bobbin tension has been set correctly at the factory, so you do not need to adjust it. Please note: - Proper tension setting is important for strong seams. - There is no single tension setting appropriate for all stitch functions, thread or fabric. - A balanced tension (identical stitches both top and bottom) is usually only desirable for straight stitch construction sewing. - 90% of all sewing will be between "3" and "5". - For zig zag and decorative sewing stitch functions, thread tension should generally be less than for straight stitch sewing. - For all decorative sewing you will always obtain a nicer stitch and less fabric puckering when the upper thread appears on the bottom side of your fabric. 1 A B C 22 D"

Doing further research, I found this statement on a machine review site:
"After reading reviews online from where I've bought my drop-in bobbin machines, I think many of the negative reviews are due to the bobbin thread coming up without laying across the bobbin. It can cause the stitches to look very sloppy and no amount of tension adjusting can fix the stitches."

There are several machine review sites wherein 4423 owners stated their disappointment in the 4423's performance. Some said the machine failed almost immediately and others said the machines developed problems when sewing heavy fabric.

Check tension and threading up first, sounds like top tension or thread catching somewhere. Also have you changed the needle, i change mine for EACH new sewing project, needles go blunt and need replacing every 4-6 hours of sewing. Lastly, press seams as you go, this improves appearance and blends stitching into the fabric,

Try these following steps:1. Look to see whether the thread loopsappear on the fabric back side. If this is the case, the tension on your sewingmachine is too loose.2. Check to see if your fabric ispuckering on the front side when you sew. If this happens, then your tension istoo tight.3. Adjust your needle thread tensionwith your machine threaded and your presser foot pedal down.4. Turn your thread tension dial asneeded. If you increase the number on your tension thread dial, you will beincreasing the tension on your sewing machine. If you are lowering the numberon your tension thread dial, you will be decreasing the tension on yourmachine.5. Clean your thread tension with asmall piece of paper or a toothpick. Slide the toothpick or paper between thediscs to remove any tangles of thread.Hope this will help you. Good Luck.

If you are putting too much fabric for the machine to sew this will happen. Does it sew any other fabrics? Some machines....even many commercial machines.........will not sew real heavy fabrics. Any thing over 1/3 of an inch and thats probably the case.

The sequence of setting up of thread from spool to needle is not complied to actual setting is one factor to be consider it affect the sequence timing of sewing.Particularly some machine are common in starting up threading.fig. shown a basic flow of thread on red color.It maybe a helpful one

In addition to this the set up of thread to bobbins winder is also need in right place the thread should be in clockwise rotation when coming out to bobbins casing as shown in fig.
as you can see when thread was pulled out from bobbins winder is moving counter clockwise.If you try to sew, try cotton fabric and set dial to # 3 to 4 and stitch set range to 8 up to 12 depend on layers and thickness,After setting try to sew manually ,turn hand wheel by your hand first,let upper tension catch the lower bobbins tension and arranged thread and insert fabric use hand turning hand wheel several time until stich appear on fabric observed loop thread on lower bobbins on fabric.if accumulation of loop thread on lower adjust upper tension also dial tension gradually until it has a smooth stich appear.

Useful to check the spool and bobbin threading. If either is not threaded correctly, the fabric will pucker/thread will break/loops will appear on either side of the fabric. Easiest to do with machine manual open so as to follow the instructions. Easiest to check your threading each time you change threads by running a test seam on scrap fabric (I keep a large piece of scrap fabric folded in half just for this). More often than not, the problem is with threading. Check threading before you change tension dial or ajust screws. Otherwise, you'll have changed the tension and may still have threading problems. Good luck.